‘Missing payments’ affect Ulster bank customers

Carmel Robinson

An estimated 600,000 Ulster Bank and RBS bank accounts have been hit by a technical glitch which means wage packets and benefit payments have not gone in as expected.

Complaints have flooded social media from panicked customers who have bills to pay, and fear any direct debits due to come out with leave them at risk of late payment charges or overdraft fees.

Here’s what you need to know - and what to do if you are among those hit.

Which banks have been affected?

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)

NatWest

Ulster Bank

Coutts

What is the problem?

A statement from the Ulster Bank said: “We are aware that some customers may not have credits applied or debits paid out from their account today, as expected. We are working hard to fix this issue and apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. No customer will be left out of pocket or encounter any fees or charges as a result of this issue. If you have been affected and need access to funds today, please contact us on 0800 231232 or visit your local branch where our staff will be able to help.”

Who should I contact?

Ulster Bank customers can call 0800 231232, or visit their local branch.

Will I have to pay charges incurred due to lack of funds?

RBS, which runs all four banks, has assured customers they will not be left out of pocket. It is not yet clear how customers can claim back any automatic charges they are issued with.

When will the money appear - and what can I do in the meantime?

RBS has said it has now fixed the cause of the problem, and is now working “as a matter of urgency” to process all the delayed payments.

In a statement, the company said these would appear “no later than Saturday”.

In the meantime, the banks are offering temporary credit if cash is needed urgently. This can be arranged by calling one of the phone numbers or visiting your local branch.